Senate votes 27–21 to concur in House amendments to gross substitute SB 6346 after heated debate

The Washington State Senate voted 27–21 to concur in the House amendments to gross substitute Senate Bill 6,346 and then passed the amended measure after hours of debate and a point‑of‑order challenge over whether the changes were within the bill's scope.

Senator Peterson, who moved concurrence, said the bill as it left the Senate already tied an income tax — slated for collections beginning in 2029 — to a set of tax reductions and that the House amendments refine and, in his view, improve the package. "I believe that the House amendments improve the bill, and I urge your concurrence," Peterson said.

The bill (SB 6,346 as amended) would impose an income tax with collections beginning in 2029, provide a series of tax reductions and targeted exemptions (including early exemptions for certain sales‑taxed services and consumer‑facing B&O surcharge relief), expand the Working Families Tax Credit to cover roughly an additional 460,000 families according to supporters, and create a 5% allocation of revenue to a new Fair Start for Kids account and an intent to fund universal school meals.

Senator Gildan challenged the House amendments on a point of order, arguing that the House added a new section — described in debate as "Part 11" — that "impermissibly expand[s] the scope and object of Senate Bill 6,346" because the new section addresses sales and B&O provisions that take effect years before the income tax and are not tied to the bill's null‑and‑void clause. "Part 11 is wholly outside of that structure, scope and object," Gildan said.

The President reviewed the point of order and ruled that, while the comparison begins with the bill as it left the Senate, the House changes constitute tax reductions similar in character to reductions already present in the bill and therefore do not fall outside the scope in a way that would sustain the point of order. The President noted the House amendments make some exemptions effective earlier with less fiscal impact than a full repeal of prior bills and that the Legislature retains the prerogative to make those policy choices.

Opponents across the floor cited several policy objections. Senator Wagner urged nonconcurrence in part because a 7% distribution for cities and counties for public defense would be replaced by a 5% transfer to the Fair Start for Kids account, and he warned that indigent public defense funding was at risk. Senator Fortunato criticized a provision limiting state tax deductions for charitable gifts to organizations principally managed in Washington, arguing it could exclude deductions for out‑of‑state disaster relief. Senators also raised concerns about inflation indexing (changing to a national CPI every other year rather than an annual local CPI), a potential marriage‑penalty, and the timing of promised investments that appear in intent language rather than the bill body.

Supporters framed the changes as meaningful relief and protections for vulnerable residents: Senator Riccelli urged concurrence by pointing to reduced childhood hunger and improved educational outcomes linked to universal school meals, and Senator Grama defended technical fixes (alignment with federal definitions, carryforwards for pass‑through entities) and an advisory work group to oversee implementation details.

After debate, a roll call on the motion to concur was sustained. The Secretary announced 27 ayes, 21 nays and 1 excused; the motion to concur was adopted. The Senate then proceeded to final passage and, on a subsequent roll call, the Secretary again reported 27 ayes, 21 nays and 1 excused; the President declared the bill passed and signed the title in open session.

The measure was transmitted to the next stage as amended; supporters said implementation details would be refined through the announced advisory group and future budget actions, while opponents said the changes should be reconsidered or returned to conference. The Senate adjourned until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 12.